The Denver Nuggets lost three players to China over the summer when it appeared that the lockout was interminable. Wilson Chandler, J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin all left and signed rich deals. None of them received opt-out clauses, as the Chinese Basketball Association amended its rules to not give those outs. But now NBA teams will be able to pay $500,000 to help players buy out their deals in China, reports ESPN's Marc Stein.
For the Nuggets, this likely doesn't mean all too much with two of the players. J.R. Smith appeared to have one foot out of the door after last season ended. Kenyon Martin was and still remains a player who will leave the Nuggets since the team never seemed interested in paying him.
Wilson Chandler was a restricted free agent and received a qualifying offer from the Nuggets. The Nuggets would likely want to bring him back, but with the NBA rumor mill spinning faster as we get closer to the first official day of free agency, the situation remains fluid.
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